08/22/2026
The move came after intense pushback from residents, business owners and other stakeholders in Sarasota’s downtown and St. Armand’s Circle.
Commissioner Kathy Kelley Ohlrich, who originally had voted for the increased parking hours and rates, said outright that the city board had erred.
“We had the best intentions and we thought extending the hours and keeping the rates low would be the solution,” Ohlrich said. “We didn’t talk to our stakeholders. We didn’t talk to the restaurateurs, the retailers, our residents, or our tourists. We talked to ourselves.”
Read the full Suncoast Searchlight story here ⬇️
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2026/08/sarasota-reverses-extended-parking-hours-after-intense-pushback
